How to Treat Goat Stillbirth & Abortions

Female goats (called does) will most commonly spontaneously abort during the last two months of their gestation -- earlier abortions during pregnancy cannot usually be detected. There can be many causes of caprine (goat and sheep) abortions and stillbirths including stress, plant toxicity, poor nutrition, parasite overload and various infectious agents. Because some of those infections can spread to humans, including toxoplasmosis, Chlamydia and Q fever, it is important that all goat owners closely monitor their pregnant does for any sign of disease and to ensure all kids are born healthy. When the doe aborts or has a stillbirth, veterinary treatment of the mother, her immediate environment and her herd is necessary to prevent spread of any disease.

Things You'll Need

  • Isolation stall or pen
  • Separate feed tubs and water buckets
  • Disposable, rubber gloves
  • Sterile cotton swabs (can be obtained from your vet)
  • Small plastic bag
  • Heavy-duty, leak-proof plastic bag
  • Prescribed medications
  • Liquid disinfectant
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Instructions

  1. Treatment of the Doe &Her Environment

    • 1

      Isolate the doe from the herd immediately, placing her in a stall or pen where she will have no contact with the herd until after a veterinarian has determined what caused the fetal death. Use separate feed and water, feed tubs and water buckets from the ones used by the herd while she is in isolation, making sure to wear gloves and wash your hands and boots when going between the two.

    • 2

      Check the doe's vagina for placental remnants (they will normally be seen protruding from the vaginal opening). This is not a normal happening in goats, and the vet needs to be notified immediately if anything remains behind.

    • 3

      Take a vaginal swab from the doe using sterile cotton swabs if the veterinarian can't examine her within three days. Place the swab in a small plastic bag for the vet to use in running diagnostic tests.

    • 4

      Place the dead fetus and placenta in a heavy-duty, leak-proof plastic bag for the veterinarian to examine. Wear gloves when dealing with any birth material and place the tissues in a refrigerator if the veterinarian is not able to check it immediately.

    • 5

      Allow your veterinarian to collect blood samples from the doe, as well as several samples from your herd, in order to help in diagnostics and determine the overall health of the rest of your goats.

    • 6

      Administer any veterinary-prescribed antibiotics or medications for the duration of the recommended treatment.

    • 7

      Disinfect the area where the abortion or stillbirth occurred, removing all bedding down to the dirt and burning it if possible. Once the bedding is gone, use a liquid disinfectant spray on the floor and walls of the stall. If the doe was in an open pen or pasture with the herd, move the herd to another pen or pasture if possible. If moving is not feasible, temporarily fence off the birthing area and spray with disinfectant.